Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #2

[Kemug]

If EP is guilty of murder, as many of us surmise, then it is chilling to consider that she watched the victims calmly as they were eating and already dying. This puts me in mind of an Agatha Christie mystery I read so long ago that I can't for the life of me remember the title. But IIRC, the murdered artist painted his killer as he was unknowingly already dying, and (with the benefit of hindsight!) the sleuths could see the murderous expression in the killer's eyes. There, now I've ruined it for you!

 

[LadyL]

Poor lady. But, phew.

but she could've still been poisoned or worse if we-know-who was caring for them

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Some posters have said that EP is a smart woman - can't say I agree with this. Just because she had a large inheritance and spent it on real estate does not IMO make her smart. And there are plenty of things pointing to the opposite, also IMO.

She may very well have used the services of a financial advisor so I don't see having invested wisely to mean that you're smart in all things. It may be you realised you didn't know how to do it on your own so found someone who did.

It doesn't mean you're smart in other aspects of your life.


I don't have a link. It's a theory.

 

[LadyL]

I think that there could be another suspect - actually I think that there IS another suspect. (MOO)

LE are playing their cards close to their chest - which is an entirely appropriate and prudent modus operandi.

LE exists in order to keep the community safe, not necessarily to provide further information when it is discovered, for the general public's consumption (although this is often appropriate, depending on the circumstances.)

LE's goal IMO in this case would be to establish whether or not a crime has actually been committed.
If investigations indicate that a crime has been committed, their aim would be to conduct further investigations in order to establish the identity of the perpetrator, along the way, gathering sufficient evidence in order to make an arrest and support successful prosecution.

If there is/are other suspect(s), LE may, or may not necessarily wish to reveal this, for various reasons.
Just one example: they may not want to alert a suspect that they are under scrutiny. (While the "heat" is on a particular person, another suspect (if they are the perpetrator) may let their guard down.

IMO the real story behind this case is much more complex than it seems, and not at all obvious.
FWIW JMO

Occam's Razor​

 

[JLZ]

but she could've still been poisoned or worse if we-know-who was caring for them

If they both died from the same type of cancer--I don't know if that's the case--then the cause might have been environmental. Even, something hidden in the home.

 

[silvercrown]

If they both died from the same type of cancer--I don't know if that's the case--then the cause might have been environmental. Even, something hidden in the home.

Moo imo If she is charged for the deaths of Don, Gail and Heather then I would expect the prosecution to examine this possibility.

 

[silvercrown]

Occam's Razor​

Yep. Like, I realllllly wanted to give EP the benefit of the doubt because there are just so many ridiculous aspects to this story (the meeting about being ‘worthy’, the death wall, the dehydrator and its tip trip, EP being a mushroom forager, the Asian grocers saying they don’t sell mushrooms as has been claimed by EP etc etc) but I do come back to Occam’s Razor.

For me, any other possible explanation and theory that I’ve read on this thread is more unlikely than the theory that she invited them for a meal and intentionally poisoned them with death cap mushrooms. Even encompassing all the strange things we have read about the case.

But… Bizarre chains of events do happen and the more you try to explain them the more ridiculous and unbelievable your story becomes. I hope for EP’s sake this is what happening to her but it’s not looking good.

Her behaviour (interview outside her car and the ‘mysterious’ leak of her official statement) hasn’t looked good either.

Sigh. I feel for her kids.

 

[LadyL]

From my earlier post: *
"Not saying EP bought DC mushrooms at farmers' market; just saying it's possible she may have, imo." bolded in post by ladyL

If the post is asking why EP did not say she bought the DC mushrooms at a farmer's market, maybe it's because she did not buy them at a farmer's market. IDK.

I see multiple possible sources for DC mushrooms but am not sure about any of them being THE definite source which poisoned her lunch guests. imo
__________________________
* Australia - 3 dead after eating wild mushrooms, Leongatha, Victoria, Aug 2023 #2

yes I was replying to your mention that it's possible that she may have - but if she did, why not say it - it would likely be harder to trace her purchase at a random farmer's market (cash only?) than a retail store

 

[JLZ]

Moo imo If she is charged for the deaths of Don, Gail and Heather then I would expect the prosecution to examine this possibility.

Good grief I hope it's not possible. Because where's the device now? In the house where her ex has been living?

 

[LadyL]

If they both died from the same type of cancer--I don't know if that's the case--then the cause might have been environmental. Even, something hidden in the home.

do you mean hidden as in asbestos in a wall or hidden as in a psychopathic daughter sneaked something into the house?

 

[silvercrown]

Good grief I hope it's not possible. Because where's the device now? In the house where her ex has been living?

My thought was that they might subpoena their medical records and speak to their treating oncologists, nothing further unless warranted. IMO

 

[LacieL]

Some posters have said that EP is a smart woman - can't say I agree with this. Just because she had a large inheritance and spent it on real estate does not IMO make her smart. And there are plenty of things pointing to the opposite, also IMO

Who Erin is seems to be a bit of a mystery.

Her mother appears to have been a widely respected academic and certainly very bright, having a PHD. Presumably her father was similarly intelligent, as that seems to be the way in academic families in my experience.

Her mother’s research included children’s literature. I can’t imagine education and books not being a huge part of Erin’s upbringing.

The media have told us people thought she was very intelligent (pointing to her wealth and property portfolio) and also that she was naive and hinted at her being childish.

I am really not sure which (if either) of those people she is.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Instagram post of mushroom cook's husband about 'not getting caught'

A bizarre old Instagram post by the ex-husband of the beef wellington pie chef in the Death Cap mushroom tragedy about 'forgiveness' and 'not getting caught' has emerged.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[TootsieFootsie]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/mushroom-cooks-stern-warning-to-lurking-media/news-story/6458ceb118a696d46ff7e26569122879

Seems its about a note to the media, on a gate at her home.

Mushroom cook’s stern warning to lurking media


Behind paywall I think. Posting it here for those who subscribe.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Suspected mushroom poisoning victim 'showing signs' of improvement

The family of suspected mushroom poisoning victim Ian Wilkinson has told 9News he is "showing signs of impr...

www.9news.com.au

Dated yesterday

 

[JLZ]

do you mean hidden as in asbestos in a wall or hidden as in a psychopathic daughter sneaked something into the house?

The latter, but just as an example.

I've been trying to find an article I read a few years ago about a series of dwellers being affected (killed, I think) by a radioactive item that was eventually found in a house.

 

[al66pine]

On Divorce in OZ, Who is Entitled to Retain Inherited Property?

I haven't read anything indicating that the money wasn't hers according to Australian laws.
Any link or reference to a post?
TIA

@jjleroche Good question. I don't have a solid answer, but from what I've skimmed re OZ. laws, a couple may enter pre-nuptial or ante-nuptial agreements re property division/settlement, or at time of separation or divorce, per OZ Family Law Act.
"Part VIII—Property, spousal maintenance and maintenance agreements 306" *

Home Page - Federal Register of Legislation

www.legislation.gov.au

Did they (their attys?) reach a property agreement, authorized by ^ statute? IDK.

Or did the court direct property division for them? IDK, but if so, here's info from a Victoria law firm discussing FACTORS OZ COURTS CONSIDER:
"In most cases, Australian courts will consider the totality of the property available for division between the parties. How and when the property was acquired and each party's contributions to property may ultimately have a substantial impact on what each party keeps as their final property settlement outcome.

"Can I protect particular assets from a property settlement in the event of a separation?
"As demonstrated above, property is defined broadly for the purposes of Australian family law proceedings.
The only way parties can quarantine or protect particular assets or financial interests from a property settlement claim is to address the division of assets (and exclude the jurisdiction of court) by entering into a financial agreement at the commencement of, during or after a relationship/marriage, pursuant to the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth)."

Same law firm:
"Ultimately, unless a financial agreement has been properly prepared and entered into, a former partner may be entitled to property that one party intended to quarantine from a property settlement upon separation – notwithstanding any private understandings or any other agreements that the parties may have had during their relationship."
What is "property" in Australian family law? | Lander & Rogers

^^^ imo ^^^
If any of our verified legal professionals (esp'ly from OZ) has rung in on this topic, I've missed it.

 

[Shadow@light]

If EP is guilty of murder, as many of us surmise, then it is chilling to consider that she watched the victims calmly as they were eating and already dying. This puts me in mind of an Agatha Christie mystery I read so long ago that I can't for the life of me remember the title. But IIRC, the murdered artist painted his killer as he was unknowingly already dying, and (with the benefit of hindsight!) the sleuths could see the murderous expression in the killer's eyes. There, now I've ruined it for you!

The Book was Agatha Christie's Five Little Pigs.

 

[LacieL]

Instagram post of mushroom cook's husband about 'not getting caught'

A bizarre old Instagram post by the ex-husband of the beef wellington pie chef in the Death Cap mushroom tragedy about 'forgiveness' and 'not getting caught' has emerged.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Simon has been very active posting on photography forums. Nothing alarming that I’ve seen though.

I don’t think those quotes are particularly troubling from a photography perspective. When I took a photography elective at university my teacher also used “better to ask for forgiveness than permission” as a personal motto.

 

[al66pine]

Other Possible Sources of EP's Assets or Income. Royalties?

Someone here (sorry, forgot who, but TYVM) posted info about EP's Mother's career as a professor of children's literature, etc., and IIRC, as an author.

Is it possible that thru her Mother's estate that EP (& sister?) has been and still is receiving her royalties for her Mother's book sales or other literature she authored?

IDK.